Purpose

Matthew Flinders Girls’ Secondary College is a learning community that challenges and supports young women to develop as independent and lifelong learners and continually strive for excellence.

MFG is a vibrant learning community that nurtures and serves the aspirations of our students. Surrounded by a supportive ‘sisterhood,’ our young people aim to achieve excellent learning outcomes and develop qualities of character that will enrich their own lives and impact positively on the lives of others.

Values

Our College Trademarks are Innovative, Supportive, Inclusive. These are underpinned by the values of respect, leadership and cooperation. Behaviours such as getting along together, a commitment to working with one another and our wider community, achieving our best and developing positive attitudes to life are actively promoted. These behaviours create a safe learning environment for our school community and are underpinned by a restorative approach to behaviour management and conflict resolution.

The students at MFG refer to themselves as the ‘sisterhood’, a description which indicates the strong relationships and encouraging, respectful, supportive environment that we value.

In serving the aspirations of girls, we value and promote:

• Thinking and curiosity
• Collaboration and teamwork
• The connection between effort and success
• Optimism, joy and a sense of hope for the future
• Confidence and resilience
• Respect for difference and diversity
• The qualities of compassion, empathy and social justice
• A commitment to the principles of permaculture: earth care, people care and fair share.

In serving the aspirations of girls we promote a working culture where we: Aim high; Work intensely; Achieve exceptionally; Explore playfully; Help willingly.

College Context

Matthew Flinders Girls (MFG) has a long and proud history. The original foundation stone was laid in 1856 when there were few other schools in Geelong. MFG is one of eight girls-only state educational providers (since 1940) and the only girls-only provider outside of the metropolitan area.

While there is no formal alumni structure, a group of ex-students, currently aged in their 70s and 80s, meets twice a year. Some students in the school are third generation members of the school community. There is an ever growing Facebook presence of past student groups and a College Alumni Facebook Page has been established. In 2016, we are celebrating our 160th year.

Our school is centrally situated within the business, arts and sporting precincts of Geelong. It has excellent access to public transport (buses and trains). A proportion of students are from the immediate locality, but a significant number come from outside the City of Greater Geelong, from areas such as Colac, Barwon Heads, Indented Heads, Lara, Inverleigh, Bannockburn, Werribee and Anakie. There are more than 50 feeder Primary schools from where the students have been drawn over the past 5 years.

The student population incorporates a diverse range of cultures, socio-economic backgrounds and family blends. The Student Family Occupation (SFO) for the school is currently 0.49. In 2016 there are:

• 18 funded PSD students – three Level 1, nine Level 2 and a TAC funded student
• 20 EAL students
• 9% non-English speaking backgrounds
• 6 students with Indigenous and Torres Strait islander backgrounds

MFG has 2 sites: the Main Campus, which consists of 2 buildings (the Old Building built in 1956 and the Embling Building which was built in the 1970s) and the Helen Fraser site across the road from the Main Campus which currently houses students in Years 8 and 9.

In serving the aspirations of students, our curriculum provision and quality of teaching are fundamental. Curriculum in Years 7-10 is based on the Victorian Curriculum and is framed by challenging and provocative ‘essential questions’. An Inquiry Based Learning approach to Teaching and Learning is at the heart of learning in Years 7 – 9.

A wide range of options is made available to Later Years students, including the opportunity to accelerate into VCE studies. Our school offers a range of VCE units, access to some Vocational Education and Training Programs (VET/SBATs) and to VCAL (Intermediate and Senior). Our school is developing some specific pathways for students to choose at MFG; these will be in the areas of health/recreation, environmental sustainability and digital technologies.

MFG is an accredited Select Entry Accelerated Learner Program (SEALP) provider, the only one in the State which is in an all-girls’ setting (now TAASS – The Academy of Accredited Select Entry Schools). This program gives students the opportunity to be selected at Year 7 according to academic and leadership potential to undertake an alternative curriculum for Years 7 to 9.

All students in Years 7 – 12 participate in a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. Students are encouraged to purchase the technology which best suits their needs for learning. The school outlines minimum specifications and recommended devices to support parents when making decisions.

Instrumental Music is a key component of our school’s co-curricular Program. Students can learn percussion, drums, singing, woodwind, brass, guitar and keyboard at school. Of particular note is that we are the only Geelong State Secondary School to teach strings. MFG is also the educational home of the Sweethearts, a highly talented and well known music group that performs frequently in professional contexts, nationally and internationally.

Since 2013 the school has been working with Deakin University to develop links between MFG and the Science and Engineering Faculties at Deakin. The focus for this development has been at Year 10 in 2013 and 2014. In 2015 – 2017 the focus is in Years 7-9. This work will links us to Deakin’s CADET facility (Centre for Advanced Design in Engineering Training) and enables MFG students to access that facility as well as Deakin’s expertise. We are also one of the partner schools with Deakin as part of Skilling the Bay: Successful STEM Schools - a program which focuses on developing teacher capacity, improving students’ Maths and Science learning outcomes in Years 7 and 8 as well as developing their interest and curiosity in STEM disciplines.

From 2014 – 2017 MFG is taking part in the global New Pedagogies for Deep Learning Project. In 2015 we have introduced a Maker Space Room and three Digital Technologies electives at Years 8, 9 and 10.

A new community garden has been established and exemplifies our school’s recent permaculture focus of “earth care, people care and fair share”. This space is shared with Dial A Lunch and the Bay City Early Learning Centre. A key component of the garden is the construction of an urban agricultural garden where students can grow healthy organic food and share this with people in our local community. It has also been the focus of a number of environmental engineering projects.

The facilities of our school are aging but we recently received a $7 000 000 grant though the State Government to upgrade and modernise our facilities to suit our contemporary learning paradigm.

1. Demonstrated high level of musicality in the area of your instrument

2. Demonstrated capacity to use a range of strategies and current technologies to support student learning

3. Capacity to assess and monitor student learning and provide effective feedback to students about their progress and how to improve

4. Demonstrated high level of ability to support sectionals and to direct ensembles

5. Demonstrated capacity to develop constructive relationships with students, parents and staff

6. Demonstrated commitment to participate in professional development

[Attendance requirement for this position]

Range 3 is distinguished by the introduction of management responsibility and accountability for the delivery of professional support services. The role will usually impact beyond the work area or professional field. It seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, operations or educational programs.

Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy. Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

The provision of business management responsibilities becomes a feature at range 3. Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility. Staff management issues will be resolved with minimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases. Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice, although this will generally be confined to matters relating to the immediate work area, service provision or educational program and is unlikely to impact substantially on whole of school operations.

This is the minimum range for positions that carry a mandatory qualification requirement of not less than four years. Professional student support positions become a feature at range 3 (e.g. therapists, psychologists) where standard professional services are delivered. Professional support and guidance will be close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee¿s position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

The Department values diversity and is committed to workforce diversity and equal opportunity in schools and all education workplaces. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx

The Department’s employees commit to upholding DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’s Values complement each school’s own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the DET values is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx

Manifold Heights Primary School is located in a suburban environment in West Geelong and commands outstanding views over Corio Bay and the City of Greater Geelong.
The school was originally established in 1926 with 60 pupils and has experienced an overall growth pattern.
Enrolments are currently at 427. Our educational precinct contains a number of State and Independent Schools and includes Newtown, Ashby, Herne Hill, Holy Spirit, St Patricks. School facilities include heritage and new buildings, a multipurpose room and a canteen. Other facilities we enjoy are a Library and Art room and an Out of School Hours Care room.
The parent community is encouraged to engage in an active partnership with the school. Parents take an active role in our school and have assisted by being members on School Council and Sub Committees, Classroom Helpers program, working bees, assistance at camps and excursions, business sponsorship, social and fundraising activities. They are also given support, guidance and encouragement to assist their child's learning at home.

SC1 Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the ability to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated experience in responding to student learning needs.

SC2 Demonstrated experience in planning for and implementing high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluating the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth. 

SC3 Demonstrated experience in monitoring and assessing student learning. Demonstrated experience in using data to inform teaching practice and providing feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4 Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.

SC5 Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated experience in reflecting upon practice and engaging in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.

SC6 Demonstrated knowledge of and capacity to deliver, a specialist Year 3-6 Science teaching program.

The classroom teacher classification comprises two salary ranges- range 1 and range 2. The primary focus of the classroom teacher is on the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. The classroom teacher engages in critical reflection and inquiry in order to improve knowledge and skills to effectively engage students and improve their learning.

As the classroom teacher gains experience his or her contribution to the school program beyond the classroom increases. All classroom teachers may be required to undertake other duties in addition to their rostered teaching duties provided the responsibility is appropriate to the salary range, qualifications, training and experience of the teacher.


Classroom teacher Range 2
Range 2 classroom teachers play a significant role in assisting the school to improve student performance and educational outcomes determined by the school strategic plan and state-wide priorities and contributing to the development and implementation of school policies and priorities.

A critical component of this work will focus on increasing the knowledge base of staff within their school about student learning and high quality instruction to assist their school to define quality teacher practice.

Range 2 classroom teachers will be expected to:
- Have the content knowledge and pedagogical practice to meet the diverse needs of all students
- Model exemplary classroom practice and mentor/coach other teachers in the school to engage in critical reflection of their practice and to support staff to expand their capacity
- Provide expert advice about the content, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
- Supervise and train one or more student teachers
- Assist staff to use student data to inform teaching approaches that enable targets related to improving student learning outcomes to be achieved.


Classroom teacher Range 1
The primary focus of the range 1 classroom teacher is on further developing skills and competencies to become an effective classroom practitioner with structured support and guidance from teachers at higher levels and the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. These teachers teach a range of students/classes and are accountable for the effective delivery of their programs. Range 1 classroom teachers are skilled teachers who operate under general direction within clear guidelines following established work practices and documented priorities and may have responsibility for the supervision and training of one or more student teachers.

At range 1, teachers participate in the development of school policies and programs and assist in the implementation of school priorities.
The focus of a range 1 classroom teacher is on classroom management, subject content and teaching practice. New entrants to the teaching profession in their initial teaching years receive structured support, mentoring and guidance from teachers at higher levels.

Under guidance, new entrants to the teaching profession will plan and teach student groups in one or more subjects and are expected to participate in induction programs and other professional learning activities that are designed to ensure the integration of curriculum, assessment and pedagogy across the school.

Teachers at range 1 are responsible for teaching their own classes and may also assist and participate in policy development, project teams and the organisation of co-curricula activities.

The role of classroom teacher may include but is not limited to:

- Direct teaching of groups of students and individual students;

- Contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of a curriculum area or other curriculum program within the school;

- Undertaking other classroom teaching related and organisational duties as determined by the School Principal;

- Participating in activities such as parent/teacher meetings; staff meetings; camps and excursions;

- Undertaking other non-teaching supervisory duties.

Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.

The Department values diversity and is committed to workforce diversity and equal opportunity in schools and all education workplaces. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx

The Department’s employees commit to upholding DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’s Values complement each school’s own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the DET values is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx